WILLISTON, N.D. – Traffic congestion is expected to improve following the highly anticipated grand opening of a major thoroughfare in Williston on August 11, 2014. An official ribbon cutting ceremony was hosted at 10 a.m. by the Williston Chamber of Commerce at the roundabout located at the intersection of 32nd Ave. N and 26th St. W, near the new Harvest Hills subdivision.

Completion of the northern portion of 32nd Ave. will provide a key element of infrastructure needed to develop Williston’s up-and-coming retail sector in the Sand Creek Town Centre, a Granite Peak Development project, and the location of Sakura Japanese Steakhouse. This will also lead motorists to the future site of Menards, a Wisconsin-based home improvement store which submitted building plans to the City of Williston in late July. The project was a collaborative effort, according to Mayor Howard Klug, who says 32nd Ave. is "a classic example of what a public/private working agreement can accomplish for the City of Williston."

The development of western Williston is a strong indicator of the tremendous growth occurring in the heart of the Bakken oil play. No one has a better understanding of this than the Hagan family, who played an essential role in this project. The family’s farmstead is intersected by 32nd Ave.; something Kathleen and her late husband, Dr. Edward J. "Bud" Hagan, often contemplated as they witnessed Williston’s transition in becoming America’s fastest growing micropolitan city over the past three years. “Bud would be proud to see what is happening in our community and how our farm is an integral part of Williston’s development going into the future,” says Kathleen, who still lives on the family farm.

Oasis Petroleum was also a key player in bringing the project to fruition, according to City of Williston’s Engineer, Bob Hanson. In exchange for procuring the right-of-way for their installation of a gas-gathering system, Oasis agreed to complete the dirt work and installed a box culvert. This tradeoff was a “big help to the City of Williston that is certainly appreciated,” says Hanson. Other pivotal entities involved in the project include design engineer, Sanderson & Stewart; contractor, Knife River Corporation; Acme Concrete; and of course, former Mayor Ward Koeser; and former City Engineer, Monte Meiers.

In addition to a more convenient commute, it will give residents an alternate route to utilize during the truck bypass construction; residents also have increased access to schools, hospitals, and supermarkets. Completion of the project is also expected to regulate traffic flow and reduce accidents.

The Hagan family has a great deal to be proud of as Williston continues to grow. “Our whole family looks forward to seeing these new and modern developments that will make Williston an even better place to live in the future,” adds Kathleen.